Royal Caribbean Takes Delivery of Odyssey of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International has officially taken possession of Odyssey of the Seas. The ship becomes the 25th vessel in the line’s fleet. To honor the occasion, Royal Caribbean hosted an untraditional delivery ceremony on Facebook Live featuring the ship’s blessing by Seafarers’ House at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, a performance from Two70 on Quantum of the Seas, and executives of Royal Caribbean in Florida and the Meyer Werft Yard in Papenburg, Germany. 

"Receiving Odyssey of the Seas into the Royal Caribbean family is a welcomed breath of fresh air. The ingenuity, passion and hard work our dedicated crew, teams on land and partners at Meyer Werft put into building a new ship always deliver, and to pull it off so well during a time unlike any other is incredible,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “We are looking forward to delivering the memorable vacations we’re known for today on a ship that will mark several firsts for us, from making Israel a first-time homeport to introducing Quantum Ultra Class to North America. Every new ship is a blank slate to go bolder and be different, and Odyssey is bringing the very best of the new and guest-favorites across two continents for the years to come.”

The vessel is the second Quantum Ultra Class ship from Royal Caribbean, weighing 169,000 gross tons and measuring 1,138 feet (347 meters) long and 135 feet (41 meters) wide. Onboard guests will enjoy the following activities and venues: 

• A Caribbean-inspired pool deck: Spanning two decks, this venue will feature two open-air pools, four whirlpools, and Splashaway Bay, anchored by a Quantum Ultra Class first – The Lime & Coconut Bar. 
• SeaPlex: The next-generation of a longtime Quantum Class favorite, this SeaPlex is the largest indoor and outdoor activity center at sea, and debuts this venue’s first Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade.
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar and Teppanyaki: Two Royal Caribbean restaurants new to North America will join the varied lineup of dining options. 
• An action-packed top deck: Returning guest-favorites include the gravity-defying SkyPad virtual reality bungee trampoline adventure, FlowRidersurf simulator, skydiving with RipCord by iFly, and the iconic North Star all-glass observation capsule that boasts 360-degree views from 300 feet above sea level.
• One-of-a-kind entertainment: Odyssey’s full-scale productions will take place in teched-out venues including the Royal Theater and Two70. 

Odyssey of the Seas’ first passenger sailings will begin this May out of Haifa, Israel. These voyages will feature 3- to 7-night getaways to destinations in the Mediterranean, including Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Athens, Greece, and Limassol, Cyprus. At this time, bookings are open to Israeli residents only. All passengers and crew above the age of 18 and must have received the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Following its inaugural summer season, Odyssey of the Seas will cross the Atlantic for a November North American debut to sail 6- and 8-night Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale. Ports of call will include Aruba, Curacao, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Explore All Cruises on Odyssey of the Seas